Battery mounting assembly

Abstract

A battery mounting assembly for a vehicle includes a battery tray configured to carry an associated vehicle battery and a battery tray support structure mounted to an underside of the vehicle. The battery tray is slidably mounted to the battery tray support structure for movement between a first operational position and a second maintenance position. The second maintenance position is laterally spaced apart from and below the first operational position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery mounting assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 a battery tray configured to carry an associated vehicle battery; and 
 a battery tray support structure mounted to an underside of the vehicle, said battery tray slidably mounted to said battery tray support structure for movement between a first operational position and a second maintenance position, the second maintenance position laterally spaced apart from and below said first operational position, wherein said battery tray includes a forward wall limiting forward movement of the associated battery relative to said battery tray and said battery tray is open at a rear thereof, and wherein said support structure includes a rear wall limiting rearward movement of the associated battery relative to said battery tray when said battery tray is in said first operative position. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 1  further including:
 at least one track disposed on said support structure and spaced vertically below the underside of the vehicle; and 
 at least one guide element disposed on said battery tray, said at least one guide element movable along said at least one track for guiding movement of said battery tray as said battery tray is moved between said first operative position and said second maintenance position. 
 
     
     
       3. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 2  wherein said at least one track includes at least one slot defined in said support structure and said at least one guide element includes at least one guide pin received in said at least one slot. 
     
     
       4. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 3  wherein said at least one slot includes a first slot defined in a first sidewall of said support structure and a second slot defined in a second, opposite sidewall of said support structure, and wherein said at least one guide pin includes a first guide pin disposed on a first sidewall of said battery tray and received in said first slot and a second guide pin disposed on a second, opposite sidewall of said battery tray and received in said second slot. 
     
     
       5. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 3  wherein said at least one slot includes a first slot defined in a sidewall of said support structure and said at least one guide pin includes a pair of spaced apart guide pins received in said first slot. 
     
     
       6. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 2  wherein said at least one track includes a relatively flat section and a sloped section, said at least one guide element located in said relatively flat section when said battery tray is in said first operational position and spaced apart from said relatively flat section when said battery tray is in said second maintenance position. 
     
     
       7. The battery mounting assembly of  6  wherein said at least one guide element includes a pair of spaced apart guide elements disposed on one side of said battery tray, said pair of spaced apart guide pins both received in said relatively flat section to orient a base wall of said battery tray in generally parallel relation with at least one of ground and an underside of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 1  further including a locking structure for locking said battery tray in said first operational position. 
     
     
       9. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 8  wherein said locking structure includes a portion of said battery tray defining a battery tray locking aperture and a portion of said support structure defining a support structure locking aperture, said apertures in registry with one another when said battery tray is in said first operational position for receipt of a threaded locking member. 
     
     
       10. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein said battery tray includes a first sidewall and a second opposite sidewall, and wherein both sidewalls limit side-to-side movement of the associated vehicle battery relative to said battery tray. 
     
     
       11. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein said support structure includes a mounting flange defined along an upper portion thereof for mounting of said support structure to said underside of the vehicle. 
     
     
       12. A battery mounting assembly for a vehicle battery, comprising:
 a support structure for carrying the vehicle battery, wherein said support structure is mounted to an underside of an associated vehicle; 
 a battery tray having a front wall and being open at a rear thereof, said battery tray slidably mounted to said support structure such that said battery tray is movable between a first position and a second position, said second position being laterally spaced apart from and below said first position, and wherein said support structure includes a rear wall limiting rearward lateral movement of the vehicle battery when said battery tray is in said first position and said battery tray includes a front wall limiting forward lateral movement of the vehicle battery when said battery tray is in said first position. 
 
     
     
       13. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 12  wherein the vehicle battery is prevented from being removed by at least one of said support structure and said battery tray when said battery tray is in said first position and the vehicle battery is removable from said battery tray and said support structure when said battery tray is in said second position. 
     
     
       14. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 12  wherein said support structure includes a pair of opposed sidewalls between which said battery tray is positioned when in said first position, said sidewalls including guide slots defined therethrough in which guide pins of said battery tray are received for guiding movement of said battery tray between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       15. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 14  wherein said guide pins include two spaced apart guide pins disposed on one side of said battery tray and received in a slot on a first sidewall of said pair of opposed sidewalls and two spaced apart guide pins disposed on another, opposite side of said battery tray and received in a slot on a second sidewall of said pair of opposed sidewalls. 
     
     
       16. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 14  wherein said guide slots each include a relatively flat section disposed adjacent a rear side of said support structure and an angled section extending from said flat section away from said rear side. 
     
     
       17. A vehicle battery mounting assembly, comprising:
 a support structure mounted to an underside of a vehicle; and 
 a battery tray slidably mounted to said support structure, said battery tray movable from a first position wherein said battery tray is positioned adjacent said underside to a second position wherein said battery tray is positioned laterally away from said first position and below said underside, wherein said battery tray includes a forward wall limiting forward movement of an associated battery relative to said battery tray and said battery tray is open at a rear thereof, and wherein said support structure includes a rear wall limiting rearward movement of the associated battery relative to said battery tray when said battery tray is in said first operative position. 
 
     
     
       18. The battery mounting assembly of  claim 6  wherein said at least one track is fully closed at a forward end and a rearward end to prevent said at least one guide pin from egressing from said at least one track.